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If your toddler liked to be carried...

14 replies

tulipsunday · 17/06/2022 18:08

Did they just grow out of it or did you have to just be firm and say no/something else? My 2 year old (26months) will run around quite happily but can be shy of others and want to be carried. Also sometimes when tired/somewhere new. Obviously can use the stroller though getting him in and out of that/having to push it around if he actually wants to run around has its own problems. Any thoughts as I am aware that as he is getting heavier I can't continue carrying him. Thanks

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MolliciousIntent · 17/06/2022 18:10

Waiting to find out! DD1 is nearly 3 and is still carried everywhere. She's a diddy dot though, and it's very doable to carry her alongside DD2 in the sling.

ForestFae · 17/06/2022 18:21

My almost 4 year olds still do this 😭

HSKAT · 17/06/2022 18:25

3 year old still likes a carry.
He's getting abit better now, will walk half way, or sometimes if he's feeling adventurous he'll walk the full way.

It breaks my back he's so heavy but he doesn't entertain the buggy now.

I didn't do anything different other than actually asking him if he wanted to walk, called him a big boy for doing so.
It wasn't worth the tantrum for me by putting him down and insisting he walked.

They do all eventually get it it's just hard on our backs in the mean time haha

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ForestFae · 17/06/2022 18:28

HSKAT · 17/06/2022 18:25

3 year old still likes a carry.
He's getting abit better now, will walk half way, or sometimes if he's feeling adventurous he'll walk the full way.

It breaks my back he's so heavy but he doesn't entertain the buggy now.

I didn't do anything different other than actually asking him if he wanted to walk, called him a big boy for doing so.
It wasn't worth the tantrum for me by putting him down and insisting he walked.

They do all eventually get it it's just hard on our backs in the mean time haha

If you’re getting back pain, a physio can massively help. It’s a bit different for me because I have EDS and a previous back injury, but I ended up with a really bad back from this and the only thing that eventually helped was a course of sessions with a physio that also did deep tissue work. It’s worth it before it gets too bad, I was in agony for months.

Lazypuppy · 17/06/2022 18:33

I just said no. For a while we used a carrier so she could go on my back but rule was once she was in she couldn'g get back out so only at the end of a walk, and not if we were just going to park etc. From 3.5yo i just refused to pick her up

captncrunch · 17/06/2022 18:36

My 4.5yo would still let me carry him everywhere now if I allowed it. Loves a carry. I have refused it out of the house for about a year now but we still get the occasional tantrum about it. At home I often carry him up to bed - it's the last remaining carry we do!

Hardbackwriter · 17/06/2022 18:39

I had to say no, and mean it, because I was pregnant and had SPD - I felt really guilty because he was only just two but it took literally a few days until he seemed completely unfussed. He's just about to turn 4 and still asks his dad to carry him, though, and will insist to daddy that he can't possibly walk distances that he walks without a murmur with me!

JuneJubilee · 17/06/2022 18:45

It's understandable they want to be carried, hell I'd be carried if I could.

my approach has always been to say they're too heavy for me now. But offered a cuddle/hand hold. Other bribery!

sometimes it requires a stern 'no, you're too heavy for me to carry now'. Ignore the tantrum/sitting/sulking/feet dragging...

and offer. Scooter/bike whenever possible.

underneathleaf · 17/06/2022 18:47

Waiting for my very nearly 4 year old to stop wanting to be carried around the house. I refuse to carry her on walks now.

Original poster
tulipsunday · 17/06/2022 20:00

Thank you for your experiences and tips. Good to know it isn't unusual.

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Okeydoky · 17/06/2022 20:06

I thoroughly recommend a proper toddler carrier to save your back. Also those hip seat things are good

JammyDodgersandPeas · 17/06/2022 20:12

I still end up carrying my just 4 year old partway to nursery at least once a week, otherwise I'd be late for work. She's excellent at dragging her feet and crying that she's tired. We really need to leave earlier to allow time for tantrums, but I'm not an early bird!

Alitlebitsleepy · 17/06/2022 20:55

My DD (nearly 2) was like this until recently. I am pregnant and had to change the way I was doing things. Being carried was her comfort and I found I was carrying her for a significant portion of the day. In the end, I had to be firm. I would say something like, 'mummy isn't going to carry you. I know that makes you sad/cross. It's OK to feel sad/cross. Mummy isn't going to carry you.' I allowed her to be upset about it and I sat next to her while she cried and offered her reassurance. It took a few days and she got used to the new way of doing things.

One thing I found very helpful when going out was to always bring the pushchair with me. When she inevitably asked to be carried, I'd say 'you can either walk or sit in the pushchair.' this worked so now she's used to the new routine of not being carried and I don't have to bring the pushchair anymore if I don't need it.

Original poster
tulipsunday · 17/06/2022 21:30

Thank you for the tips x

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